10 PET HATES

• Single spaced manuscripts in tiddly or faded type or fancy fonts (always double space)
• Lacklustre submission letters with little information
• Proposals for fictional novels (what other sort are there?)
• Non-consecutive chapters e.g. 1, 13 and 26 (always send the first three; if you’re not confident in them you shouldn’t be sending them out)
• Invitations to peruse a manuscript—surely you want your manuscript read with more passion than a mere perusal
• Humorous submissions that aren’t funny
• String, rusty paperclips, treasury tags, too much Sellotape and the like
• Undersize envelopes, unstamped envelopes, international reply coupons
• Absence of contact information and undated letters
• Submission letters that say your mum loved it